WestFiction- "In the Arms of an Angel" by Xtine

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In the Arms of an Angel> chapters 12-16

When Gaby got home, Anya was in the living room looking frigid and seething at the same time. Her face was etched with worry. “What the hell were you thinking?” she barked, standing abruptly at the sight of Gaby. “Sneaking out to stroll around a place you hardly knew! What were you thinking, Gabrielle?”

Uh-oh. She's definitely mad, she thought, feeling terrible. She only calls me Gabrielle when I've pissed her off completely. “I only wanted to have fun, Anya!”

“Fun?” her eyes growing with exasperation. “You call that fun? Giving me a heart attack? I'm supposed to take care of you, dammit!!”

Gaby snapped. “Nobody asked you to take care of me!” she screamed, as she ran her hands through her hair. Her head was throbbing again. Thump, thump, thump. Louder. Louder. “I'm not some weakling! I'm a normal person! Stop treating me like I'm dying!”

“You are dying!” she retorted. Gaby`s eyes grew huge, pain slashed her face. Tears began to fall down her eyes. Anya started for her, trying to reach her and tell her sorry. She didn't mean to snap that way.

“Don't come near me!” Gaby hissed. “I swear to God I don't know what I`ll do to you! Stay away from me!” Hot tears were soaking her face. Her head was pulsating loudly. It was as if her skull was going to break. “Stay away. Stay away. Stay away,” she chanted.

“Gaby, listen to me. I'm sorry. It slipped.” Anya sobbed, her mascara running. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“It slipped?” Gaby whimpered. “It slipped? Just all of a sudden it slipped? You must be thinking about me dying all the time if it slipped!” her sobbing built more crescendo. It was driving Anya crazy seeing her cry like a madwoman.

“What do you want me to do? I can't help but think about it! I can't just store the fact that you're going to die in one of those shelves in my head and think about it when I want to! Gaby,” she sat infront of her, her thumbs and forefinger holding Gaby`s chin forcefully to look in her eyes, “I don't want you to die. I feel like I have this task to protect you and keep you alive. I feel as if by protecting you I can stop you from getting sicker and sicker.”

Like a baby, Gaby`s weeping grew louder and louder. “You can't do anything, Anya. The damned doctors couldn't even take all of the stupid tumors out! You can't protect me. Nobody can.” She stared at her agonizingly and reached out to hug her. “I'm so scared, Anya. Now that you’ve said it aloud, I'm scared more than ever. Any minute I can die.”

The thought made them shudder in fear. “I'm sorry, Gaby. I don't know what to do. I'm just as scared as you are.”

“I don't know what to do either. I don't even know how to live normally. I'm trying so hard to be brave, to act as if nothing's wrong but I can't. I can't be strong all the time. Somehow, this sickness has eaten the strength I thought I had.” Tears continued to roll down her face, streaking her pale cheeks.

“You’re strong,” Anya insisted. “You are. You're one of the strongest persons I know. And I love you more for that.”

They hugged each other tighter as they continued sobbing. Time is running out for them. When or where Death will strike, they both did not know. Soon though, Gaby would have to say goodbye.

CHAPTER 13

Shane has been lying in bed all day. The trip back home really worn him out but it was well worth it. So what if his trip was cut short? So what if he was pissed with Ronan at first for asking him to come home? All that's forgotten. He met Gaby and that was the most important thing of all. “Gaby,” he mouthed softly, a smile playing on his thin lips. The image of her oval shaped face flashed in his mind. Her cropped dark hair that stuck out in front, her finely arched brows that emphasized her almond-shaped dark brown eyes, her straight nose with a tiny mole on the left side of the bridge, and her full lips that lacked color made him smile in delight. I wish I had had the balls to ask for her mobile number, he thought remorsefully. But no, I chickened out and opted not to.

He rolled over, stomach-down, his chin cradled in his arms. “Will I ever see her again?” Sligo isn't that big but looking for a person you've only met once is like looking for a needle in the haystack. But he’d do whatever it takes. He wanted to be near her, to hear her merry tales, to take care of her. Take care of her, the last phrase echoed in his mind.

Shane pictured Gaby telling him, “I've brain tumor. Glioblastoma multiforme, actually.” A painful look crossed his face. She could be dying, he thought sadly. And I want to be there for her for whatever she wants. I think I'm in love with her!

He bolted right up. “I'm in love with her?” he said aloud, surprised as well at what he had just contemplated upon. “How can I be in love with her? I don't know her that well! This can't be love!” It felt unsettling feeling this way. It was weird but in a happy weird way. He liked the fluttering in his stomach when he thinks of her.

“ARGH!” he screamed. “Tomorrow,” he firmly stated, “I'm going to look for her no matter what it takes!”

CHAPTER 14

Mark flicked at the remote control, switching channels every five seconds. He was seated on the family’s living room couch with a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and doing his best to concentrate on the telly. Nothing could hold his interest. His mind kept on wandering to the event that happened several hours ago. He saw Gaby and her tear-stricken dark eyes, her pale cheeks and full lips. Lips, he thought. His mind went back to her lips. He reached for his lips and touched his fingers to it. Her lips touched mine, he thought, absurdly happy. "Why didn't I ask for her number? Or her address?" he wondered, feeling like a complete deutz for not doing so. "Now I'm stuck here, wondering where the hell she is!"

He sighed resignedly and shrank deeper into the soft leather couch. He banged his head several times, trying to eject thoughts of Gaby off his mind. It didn't work. “Damn!” he cursed. “Now I have a headache as well!” he grumbled and stared at the telly, not caring what was showing. This is insane, he thought, cursing under his breath. What is happening? A girl kisses you and you go lunatic! I'm a pervert! I'm a pervert, he screamed mentally.

Mark grabbed a pillow and propped it on his head, liking the feel of the soft material cushioning his head. I`ll sleep this off, he told himself. When I wake up, thoughts of Gaby will be completely erased. “Right,” he said audible enough to convince himself that he could brush her off that easily. He sighed. The last thing he needed was to go crazy over some girl who’s hooked on a lad named Sean. He still can't believe how he felt when she kissed him, though. It felt so good. The good feeling started down his feet and traveled to his head. And how can he forget the butterflies in his tummy? It all felt good.

Mark heard a loud scream. He snapped his head around and moved his eyes to see who it was. Instinctively, he started walking briskly until he was running, matching the power of his strides with the terrified screaming. He skidded to a full stop when he realized he reached the end of a cliff. “Oh my God!” he exclaimed, looking down to see a girl with cropped hair holding on painfully to a raveling rope. “Hang on! Hang on!” he screamed nervously. The girl’s screaming decreased, steadying a bit as Mark crouched on his knees. “Gimme your hand,” he instructed, reaching out his left hand to the girl. She hesitated, scared that if she moves the rope will split. “I won't let you fall, I promise. Now take my hand,” Mark said firmly. She has to grab my hand now or else she’ll fall and die, he thought dreadfully.

Slowly, the girl extended her arm but Mark was still too far. He moved farther, not caring if he's risking his life. Her life depends on me now, he thought, brushing aside the fear building inside him. “Come on!” he shouted. “Push yourself up a little more. You can do it!” he encouraged. Their hands were almost touching. Then they heard it.

SNAP!!! The rope finally split! The girl started to fall fast and she was screaming. He was shouting as well, leaning over some more hoping against hope he could grab her hand and save her. But she was plunging so fast and he couldn’t stop it. He stared at the descending body and his eyes found his way to her face for some reason. What he saw shocked him.

“Gaby!!!” he bellowed, tears threatening to fall from his big blue eyes.

CHAPTER 15

Mark bolted right up, sweat trickling down his forehead. His chest was heaving up and down. He looked around to check where he was. He was still on the couch, hugging a pillow. The telly was flickering in front of him. A bag of salt and vinegar crisp was lying open on the carpet. His sneakers were thrown at the foot of the sofa. He was definitely at home. He was surely having a bad dream. “But of Gaby?” he wondered aloud. “And why the strange dream? It all felt real. So real!” He wiped the sweat off his face. He was scared. The dream alarmed him. Even in my dreams, she's there. Could this mean something? he asked himself. “Argh!” he screeched, tossing the pillow aside. “I need to get out of here!”

He went to the telephone and dialed Rowen’s number. “Hey, mate! What's the craic?”

“Not much, mate! How are ya?” the voice on the other line replied.

“Fine,” he muttered. Then he shook his head. “No, I'm not fine.”

“Why not? Any problem? Come on, tell me, I'm your best mate.”

“It's…” he hesitated. “I`ll pick you at home and then I'll tell it to you!”

“Cool, mate,” Rowen replied. “Gimme a couple minutes and then we can pick a six-pack!”

“Ok, see you!” With that Mark hang the phone. He needed a diversion. Thinking about a girl with whom he spent less than a day with was insane. And falling in love with her was out of the question. “In love?” he cooed. Where the hell did that idea come from, he asked himself angrily. “I AM NOT IN LOVE!” he screamed whilst running outside to get his car.

CHAPTER 16

“Hey, Gaby,” Anya whispered, shaking her cousin to wake her up. “Rise and shine!”

She stirred a little, opening her right eye. “Who died?” she asked.

“What?” Anya asked.

Gaby turned to her left to check the time. The clock read 6:00 AM! “Anya! For Christ’s sake!! It's six in the morning! Go back to bed! Unless someone dies, let’s hope it's not me, don't wake me up!” she grumbled, pulling the quilt up her chin.

“You have to wake up,” Anya insisted. “There are so many things we have to do!” she said excitedly, pulling the covers away from her cousin’s. “Wake up or else!”

Gaby didn't budge. She was too tired. Her head was aching a bit and she felt like she was coming down with a fever again.

“You asked for it!” Anya swiftly removed the covers off her and climbed on the bed. She started bouncing up and down until Gaby paid attention. “I won't stop until you get out and dress up!” she puffed, her voice becoming muffled as she catches her breath.

Gaby yanked Anya`s hand which caused her to fall flat on her face near Gaby`s stomach. “Stop it! I will get out of this bed and do whatever it is you deem so important you have to bother me in the middle of my sleep!” she said in one breath, standing up and leaving Anya sprawled on the soft, unmade bed.

“Good,” Anya brushed away the hair on her face and wheezed loudly.

An hour later, Gaby went down to the kitchen with a smile on her face. The shower did her good—no more fever, no more headache, at least nothing she can't handle by herself. “Morning,” she said in a singsong voice as she padded over to the kitchen island and plopped herself on the stool.

“Cereals or toast?’ Anya asked, not looking up from the entertainment section of the newspaper she was reading.

“Cereals. I`ll fix myself a bowl. Want one?” she asked, standing up to get the corn flakes and cold milk.

“No, thanks. I'm stuffed already. Four toasts with bacon and egg plus a bowl of cereal can do that to you!” Anya chuckled, rubbing her flat tummy.

Gaby laughed. Anya has always been very fond of food but she never gains weight, though. That was something she was envious of. She has to watch what she eats or else she'll gain a lot of weight. At one point, she went from 120 pounds to 200 because of the steroids she had to take for a couple of months. But since she's stopped, she was able to pull her weight down again. But I guess I don't have to worry about losing weight now, she thought smugly. Being thin is definitely not in my agenda. Hell, I'm gonna die! And I'm gonna have my body cremated so I don't have to worry about the pallbearers being burdened!

Anya went on reading as Gaby began to eat her breakfast. They continued in silence with occasional glances and remarks. “By the way, where are we going?” Gaby broke the silence, walking to the sink to wash the few plates piled up.

“I thought we’d walk around and explore places and talk.” She really didn't have a concrete plan. She just wanted to start early and do a lot of things at once.

Gaby snorted. “Wow, what a grand plan! Here I was thinking you were going to whisk me off to Scotland or England!”

Anya smiled sheepishly. “Well, excuse me but I couldn’t think of anything to do at this early! We can just walk around town, get some coffee and then go shopping late in the morning and then go clubbing in the evening!”

“Clubbing sounds fun! Ok, let’s go then!” she grabbed Anya`s hand and dragged her out of the house, excited for some reason. At least I'm not so jaded yet, she thought happily. If things like taking a walk and talking can make me happy, it means I'm okay.

They had an amazing time walking and just basically embracing Sligo`s beauty. Gaby told Anya the event yesterday when she met Mark Feehily and what she did. Anya shrieked in disbelief when she found out Gaby snatched Mark and kissed him and asked him if she raped him. They started guffawing and people though they were mad!

Out of the blue, Anya started doing high kicks as if she was straight out of a Kung Fu film. “Come on and have a go if you think you can handle me,” she dared Gaby, her hands ready to strike.

Hands in fighting position, Gaby started jabbing the air and doing push kicks. “Come here, lady! If you think you're tough, then let’s get it on.” They both laughed at the silliness of it all. They started sparring, doing hook punches, jabs, straight punches and kicks. People were stopping to check out what they were doing but they couldn’t be bothered.

“FIGHT! FIGHT!” someone screamed from behind but they were so intent on their play they didn't notice the build up of people.

Gaby took Anya`s wrist and gave it a slight twist and dropped her on the ground as painless as she could. She placed her feet to where she dropped Anya to cushion her cousin’s fall. Anya was rolling on the floor, laughing her head off. Gaby roared with laughter.

With a sly smile, Anya extended her hand so Gaby can help her up. Upon doing so, she hooked her right foot on Gaby`s calf and gave it a hard nudge. SMACK! Gaby fell flat on her face, almost on top of Anya.

“Get off me, lady! The last time I checked I was a lady and only a guy can top me!!” Anya remarked cheekily.

They started howling in laughter again and the people that have crowded started clapping.

“OK, break it up, people! You're blocking our restaurant!” a voice said, pushing its way to the inside of the circle.

Anya looked up to see that there were at least ten people surrounding and looking at them. “OH MY GOD!” she exclaimed, giving Gaby a tap on the shoulder.

“UH-OH,” Gaby said, surveying the people around. She smiled sheepishly and tried to stand up but the preposterousness of it all made her laugh again. “Come on, Anya, stand up!”

“How can I stand up when your body is all over me?” she retorted, laughing her head off.

“Come on, people!!” the rich baritone voice boomed once again. “Break it up. Move along. You're all in the driveway.” He looked at the two bodies sprawled on the pavement near the door of the café. “As for you two, do your sparring somewhere else because you're causing a problem.”

They didn't budge. The girl lying on her back peeked from beneath and told him, “Hey, you! Give us a hand will you? My cousin is massively heavy I can't breathe anymore!” Anya laughed. People have started to dissipate and go on with their own things.

The guy reached for the hand of the girl with the cropped hair and helped her get up. She dusted herself off, shoulders shaking uncontrollably. He helped the other girl up as well. “Well, next time, don't go hitting each other!” he said, in a half-angry half-amused voice.

The girl with the crop hair looked at him and smiled widely.

His heart stopped for a while. He felt the butterflies in his tummy come alive. Oh boy, he thought.

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